Takuya Kuroda – ‘Fly Moon Die Soon’ (2020)
Takuya Kuroda already located the sweet spot where funk, jazz, hip-hop and R&B intersect. Now he’s amping up the studio creativity with ‘Fly Moon Die Soon.’
Something Else!
Soft Machine – ‘Live at the Baked Potato’ (2020)
‘Live at the Baked Potato’ shows that you can’t keep a good band down. But does this edition of Soft Machine stand up to what went before?
How the Rolling Stones Got Their Mojo Back With ‘A Bigger Bang’
The Rolling Stones accomplished something 15 years ago today that hadn’t happened in a quarter century: They put out a good record.
Anna Webber – ‘Rectangles’ (2020)
Anna Webber builds a talented band around an idea from years earlier, and her deeper dive into that idea is well justified, judging from this galvanized performance.
Circuline – ‘CircuLive::NewView’ (2020)
Circuline’s new concert recording ‘CircuLive::NewView’ is melodic and molten rock that sizzles right out of the pizza prog oven.
Sameer Gupta + Ben Tyree – ‘Unruly Neighbors’ (2020)
Sameer Gupta and Ben Tyree make music that’s direct and sometimes abrasive but also easy to absorb because they mesh so well together.
Steve Smith: The Albums That Shaped My Career
Steve Smith, of Journey and Vital Information fame, joins Ross Boissoneau to discuss Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Herb Alpert and others.
Kaze + Ikue Mori – ‘Sand Storm’ (2020)
Satoko Fujii and Natsuki Tamura always have something new to say in part because they are so open to allowing new musical personalities to disrupt an existing chemistry.
Death Cab for Cutie, “Summer Skin” from ‘Plans’ (2005): One Track Mind
Released 15 years ago today, Death Cab for Cutie’s meaningful and idiosyncratic “Summer Skin” seems to be about youth, but really it’s all about growing up.
Bob James – ‘Once Upon a Time: The Lost 1965 New York Studio Sessions’ (2020)
Bob James’ ‘Once Upon a Time’ helps to complete our understanding of an artist far more adventurous than his popular works come close to suggesting.
